Trial results show artificial pancreas reduces risk of overnight hypoglycemia
JDRF funded trails at Cambridge University have shown that an artificial pancreas dramatically reduces the risk of potentially deadly hypoglycemia.
Published today in the respected journal The Lancet, JDRF-funded researchers developed and successfully tested an automated management system, which was able to predict and prevent blood sugar fluctuations. Dramatic blood sugar drops, or hypoglycemia, have immediate and often devastating consequences and have an enormous impact on both individuals and families living with type 1 diabetes.
The system being tested in this case combined a commercially available insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor with a sophisticated computer algorithm designed to calculate the appropriate amount of insulin required in different circumstances. It was fitted to participants with type 1 diabetes aged between 5-18yrs who were kept overnight at hospital for monitoring.
The results of the trial showed that the children using the system spent twice as much time in a healthy blood sugar range. A further trial showed that that this protective quality did not diminish when participants consumed a large carbohydrate meal before bed and showed an even more positive improvement when participants did strenuous exercise before bed.
According to the Chief Investigator, Dr Roman Horvorka, these results show that commercially-available devices, when coupled with the newly developed algorithm, can improve glucose control in children and significantly reduce the risk of overnight hypos. This is a significant improvement on current management practices and will ideally be moved into wider clinical testing in the home environment.
Dr Dorota Pawlak
Commenting on the research, JDRF Research Manager Dr Dorota Pawlak said “An automated diabetes management system, or artificial pancreas, is the Holy Grail for people who are living with insulin-dependant diabetes.”
“While an artificial pancreas isn’t a cure, it will help to significantly reduce serious diabetic health complications whilst also reducing the burden on individuals and families that live with the constant fear of blood sugar fluctuations.”
“This trial is the first real proof that existing management technology can be expanded to make a dramatic difference to the lives of people living with type 1 diabetes and also their carers.”
This research project is just one element of JDRF’s global Artificial Pancreas Project which is bringing together the best scientific teams across the world to progress development of the artificial pancreas system as fast as possible. You can find out more at www.jdrf.org/artificialpancreas
This research is only possible thanks to the generosity of JDRF’s supporters.
You can help us speed up the process of bringing the Artificial Pancreas to reality by supporting the Artificial Pancreas Project . Every dollar will help bring research to reality.
This sounds like a great break through,it can only be good for the young kids, of which my daughter is one,that live with type one,I will look forward to hearing more and even the day that this becomes available to diabetics……"Thanks to all involved for your hard work". John & family.
This is fantastic research, and will have a huge impact on the lives of people and families with type 1 diabetes.
Thank you for all the much need people that strive for a better life
for our children living with type 1 diabetes.. Keep up the great job!!!
i find it weird that the insulin pump is called the artificial pancreas….
….is it so named so that it sounds more convincingly an interim cure ????….
… my son says the machine is nothing more than a different syringe.
its called an artificial pancreas as it monitors the BGL and injects the required dose accordingly,similar to a pancreas. As for it being nothing more than a different syringe – well that couldnt be further from the truth, you have definatley been misinformed there. While it may not be a cure it is definatley a massive step foward in the right direction. Its not a normal insulin pump and to have access to something like this would be absolutley fantasic. I cant wait to see this available!
If this was available now and tested as being safe it would be a wonderful thing. I can only hope that this type of research continues and that my son has an artificial pancreas by the time he has hit his teens. It has spurred me on to fundraise more to help realise this dream.